Responding to Rice

Key Learning Area

English – Reading

Level

Middle Primary

Description

Activities to support students' comprehension of the text, and allow them to respond to the text in a meaningful way

Lesson overview

To become familiar with content, layout and text features of the book

Lesson duration

5 x 15 minute sessions – Reading Block: Shared Book
or
One hour

Main learning outcomes

English

Materials required

• Cards for recording responses
• Poster paper

Procedure

1. Prediction
   
   • Show students the front cover of The Really Big Food Project.
   • Invite students to predict from the title and the cover what the book might be about.
   • Read the blurb from the back cover.
2. Brainstorming
   
   • Before reading The Really Big Food Project, ask students: 'What do you already know about rice?'.
   • Record all responses on cards.
   •  
   • Teacher, assisted by students classifies and groups related information and displays on a poster.
3. Read text
   Teacher reads The Really Big Food Project to the class. Reading may be done over several sessions. Students can be encouraged to take notes about new information they find out about rice, as the book is read.
4. What have we learnt?
   Organise students into small groups. Students brainstorm what they have learnt about rice onto blank cards. These cards are added to the class poster.
5. Book features Class discussion about the features of the book. Students contribute to a list of the features they have noticed in the book. Record this on a chart using headings: Feature and Purpose
   

   Feature	Purpose
   Fact Bites Diary Entries Folk Tales Photographs	To provide information

   This list may contain: fact bites, diary entries, folk tales, photographs, maps, interviews, recipes, pronunciation guide, use of borders, headings and colour, and email dialogue.

Extension Activities: Responding to the text

Students select from the following activities:

• Make a different front cover for the book
• Write your own blurb for the book
• Make up an interview with Mr Winters checking on how Tom and Emma are going with their project. Record this
• Write out a recipe from the book and decorate with an appropriate heading and border

Suggested follow-up activities

Find other recipes from the countries mentioned in the book. Make the recipes.